Reviews and Recommendations: folk

Reviewed by Mr Hippy Dave
After the show at Crewe the day before, I have to admit I was expecting a lot of this, the last date on Karnataka's Autumn tour. The Point is a fantastic little venue, too - one of my favourites, if I'm quite honest - so I... [more]

Event Date: October 27, 2008
Event Venue: The Point Cardiff

Reviewed by Mr Hippy Dave
After the show at Crewe the day before, I have to admit I was expecting a lot of this, the last date on Karnataka's Autumn tour. The Point is a fantastic little venue, too - one of my favourites, if I'm quite honest - so I was in a great mood from the moment I walked through the doors. Perhaps this all coloured my thoughts on the show, but for me this was definitely the best I've seen the band since the fracturing of the original line-up.

Clearly there was something in the air. Perhaps it was merely the absence of the technical issues that had dogged the band's set at Crewe, perhaps it was because the show probably qualified as a 'homecoming' gig for Welsh Karnataka founder member Ian Jones, perhaps the band just sensed the positivity being broadcast loud and clear by the small but hugely appreciative crowd... perhaps it was a combination of all these things, but it was clear as soon as the band took the stage and launched into a very powerful and assured rendition of the new instrumental track State Of Grace that they were out to make a point. I had very much enjoyed the band's 2007 tour (which they mounted with a different drummer and no backing vocalist), but this was quite evidently a whole new band, not in terms of personnel, but in their attitude and self-belief. There was a very different vibe coming off the stage: it reminded me instantly of the feel-good up-and-at-'em vibe of the best shows by the original line-up - and there's no more fulsome praise than that.

The whole show was simply a string of highlights. The new material was every bit as impressive as it had been at Crewe; more so, in fact, since the technical issues that had affected that show were entirely absent here, meaning that State Of Grace and Your World (the two tracks most affected by the problems at Crewe) sounded even more convincing and powerful than ever. In fact, Your World is such a memorable and contemporary-sounding song that I'm surprised the band haven't picked it out as their forthcoming single (having opted for the beautiful but perhaps less immediate Moment In Time), with a chorus as addictive as crack cocaine. It was quite evident that vocalists Lisa and Philippa love performing it, too. All seven new tracks were a real treat, particularly the passionate Moment In Time, the aforementioned Your World and the fabulous The Gathering Light, clearly a fan favourite in the making.

That's not to say that the older material suffered by comparison, though. Whilst it lacked a little of the variety of the new material, there's no arguing with the widescreen drama of songs like After The Rain and The Journey, the epic celtic rock of The Storm, or the effortlessly moving and highly emotive balladry of Heaven Can Wait or the sublime I Should Have Known (back in the set after the unexpected substitution with The Right Time for the Crewe gig). The current line-up really have reclaimed these songs - their performances of some of them (notably the songs from the Delicate Flame Of Desire album, for some reason) were rather tentative on the 2007, but on this tour the band's performances of these back catalogue favourites was nothing less than stellar. Perhaps this, more than anything else, is indicative of the band's growing confidence in their own ability to do the material justice. Particularly impressive tonight were the renditions of Time Stands Still, which has never rocked harder; I Should Have Known, which possessed an electricity that I've seldom heard it equal before; and an absolutely blinding, show-stopping performance of The Journey, a simply stunning rendition that even Sirius-era Clannad would have envied.

The regular encore of The Serpent & The Sea brought things to a close with some style - initially probably my least favourite of the new songs, repeated live performances have brought out the strength of the sea shanty-style melody and a lyric I can really identify with. By now the crowd were well and truly won over, if they hadn't been already, and as the band took their traditional stage-front ensemble bow, it was evident from the wide smiles and laughter that the band were well aware that they've taken a giant leap forward with this string of dates. At the end of the day, it's been over 4 years now since the dissolution of the original line-up, and the new-look band have essentially had to re-construct an audience from scratch, a challenge which they've risen to with real style and a commednable can-do attitude. On this form, the sky really is the limit!

Roll On 2009 for the release of the new album "The Gathering Light" With a bigger UK tour and some festival appearances to follow! [less]

Eighty per cent of this line up were at University of Kent in 1972 for a gig that set  the hall alight.

This was the nearly early days when Steeleye had matured into a major innovative and easily recognisable  force.  They took over the mantle from Fairport and... [more]

Eighty per cent of this line up were at University of Kent in 1972 for a gig that set  the hall alight.

This was the nearly early days when Steeleye had matured into a major innovative and easily recognisable  force.  They took over the mantle from Fairport and developed electric folk into something instantly recognisable and appealing to a wide audience.

The style is innovative and the range broad, but their instantly identifiable sound is that of old fashioned and traditional instruments electrified and then blended with modern rock methods.

As the members of the band age, so does their audience even though they attract a growing interest from younger generations.  They perform only intermittently and are more valued and sought after for that.  But the sound and use of the instruments and the lyrics is so much their own that a tribute band... well I don't think so.  But then could Maddy's daughter - Rose - bring together STEELEYE 2 and carry on the legend? [less]

A absolutely amazing evening with Barbara Dickson and her wonderful band of musicians - among whom Troy Donockley and Pete Zorn stood out for their  musicianship and superb singing.  But the star of the evening was Barbara Dickson - sounding better than ever, looking better than ever and... [more]

Event Date: March 7, 2009
Event Venue: Shaw Theatre, London

A absolutely amazing evening with Barbara Dickson and her wonderful band of musicians - among whom Troy Donockley and Pete Zorn stood out for their  musicianship and superb singing.  But the star of the evening was Barbara Dickson - sounding better than ever, looking better than ever and performing a set - that while including many of her hit records -  was grounded in the traditional music which really informs her best work.  For example 'I Know Him So Well' has been transformed from an overblown 80s power ballad into a semi acoustic gem which illuminates what a good song it really is.
Barbara Dickson is one of the finest female singers the UK has ever produced and is a must see artist if you're interested in great songs sung and played to perfection. [less]

I am a massive fan of the Levellers, have been since the 90's but only really started to follow them this year.  Last night's performance at Jb's was fantastic, the atmosphere and crowd were amazing.  These guys are true performers and give their absolute all in all their... [more]

Event Date: September 18, 2009
Event Venue: Jb's Dudley

I am a massive fan of the Levellers, have been since the 90's but only really started to follow them this year.  Last night's performance at Jb's was fantastic, the atmosphere and crowd were amazing.  These guys are true performers and give their absolute all in all their performances.

Earlier in the year, I also saw them at the Civic in Wolverhampton - where I must admit, the crowd needed a bit of a shift to get them going.  To get a real taste of them though, you need to go to the Beautiful Days festival in Devon.  This year they opened with an acoustic set and finished the festival off with a foot stomping set from "A weapon called the world" ending with a huge fireworks display.  It was awesome.

I'm off to Brum to see them next at the new o2 and then onto the Cheltenham festival in June 2010, I really cannot get enough of them and my only gripe is that my albums now sound dull after hearing and seeing them in the flesh.  Give them a whirl, you won't be disappointed. [less]

I was one of a few fans to get a ticket to a private show which was being filmed for broadcast on TV.

I was up in the balcony where I guess there were around 60 people in single rows on three sides. Down below there were probably not many more... [more]

Event Date: February 18, 2009
Event Venue: LSO St. Luke’s, London

I was one of a few fans to get a ticket to a private show which was being filmed for broadcast on TV.

I was up in the balcony where I guess there were around 60 people in single rows on three sides. Down below there were probably not many more than 100 people seated among tables – special guests such as Marianne’s friends and family, record company execs, press etc. The stage was 3 or 4 steps up, quite wide and had the imposing church windows up behind it.

There were 11 musicians - organ/piano, 4 x string section, guitar, drums, bass, brass/woodwind, brass/woodwind/accordion/piano, guitar/ukulele/mandolin/viola/saw. And, of course, one Marianne Faithfull dressed in a black suit and white blouse, mostly standing but sometimes seated on a stall. This was the first time she had performed the new songs in front of people and she said she was a bit nervous to start with.

I won’t go into detail about every song - I’ll just pick out some highlights. She started with a nice rendition of the familiar ‘Times Square’ and then quickly into the songs from the new album with ‘Down From Dover’, the merits of the large band already showing with brass, strings and organ all adding their bit to create a rich backing track. ‘Children of Stone’ included some marvellous flute playing – I’m quite partial to a bit of flute. One of my favourites from the new album ‘Hold On Hold On’ moved along at pace and ended in a great fuzz viola solo (or was it violin?). Another of my favourites ‘The Crane Wife’ started up to a shout of “I love you” from the balcony, building to a crescendo of vocals, drums, guitar and accordion. ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ appeared to be a favourite of Marianne’s and her voice was a superb match for it.

Back to an old song with ‘Broken English’, not as raucous as usual but a more sinister, rumbling sound with an appropriate sounding sax solo. It was nice to hear a different arrangement which took advantage of the big band. Possibly my favourite of the new tracks on the night was ‘Kimbie’, with Marianne’s excellent vocals accompanied by guitar and accordion. It seemed like the whole audience was holding it’s breath throughout the song. Then, my most definite favourite new one, the Morrissey song ‘Dear God Please Help Me’. It was every bit as good as I hoped, with the strings really coming to the fore.

Then followed ‘Sister Morphine’ with Marianne doing a very good impersonation of Bob Dylan and threatening to do the whole song that way sometime, ‘The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan’ with an appropriate accordion accompaniment, ‘Why’d Ya Do It’, as good as ever but again a bit different with organ and sax prominent, and a special arrangement of ‘As Tears Go By’. It was apparently the first time Marianne has sung it live to the original backing arrangement, including the Cor Anglais played by one of the very versatile musicians. Strings and piano were added to make it a very special performance indeed.

‘Sing Me Back Home’ was performed as the encore and seemed an apt winding up, going home kind of song.

This was the end of a very special and intimate performance, the likes of which most of us will never see again, and I felt quite privileged to be there. I hope, for the sake of those that weren’t as lucky as me, that there will be a tour later in the year with the same band and similar set list, as I’m sure you’ll think it’s great.

Thanks to Marianne for making some tickets available to her fans and for a night I won’t forget. [less]